Cipriani sends Jones message but Bassett blow puts dampener on Wasps’ joy of six
A six-try performance that takes Wasps to second in the Aviva Premiership table should be cause for festive cheer, but any sense of joy was subdued with yet another injury.
During the week, the injury list grew to include Nathan Hughes, Jimmy Gopperth and British and Irish Lion Elliot Daly, out until March. They will now be joined in the treatment room by wing Josh Bassett, who was carried off the field with a hamstring strain, leaving his side to play the final eight minutes with 14 men.
Dai Young, the Wasps director of rugby, gave the impression that both the injury situation and an undulating first half that ended with Gloucester 17-15 to the good were playing on the Welshman’s mind.
“I am disappointed with some defensive lapses in the first half. They only came into our half three times in the first half and to come away with three tries was hugely disappointing,” he said.
“But we just weren’t winning the collisions in the first half. We had a chat in the first half that we had to win those collisions, which would make it easier for us to get our defensive line organised.”
Former Springbok Willie le Roux opened the scoring, only for Gloucester captain Willi Heinz to return with a try of his own, followed by Gloucester back-line colleague Mark Atkinson.
Christian Wade then dotted down for the first of a brace in reply for Wasps, after being held up following some patient phase play.
Young said: “We know they have got a good defence and we knew we would have to keep hold of the ball and keep asking questions. A prime example was when Wadey got held up. We went through a number of phases and the opportunity arouse.”
Gloucester full-back Tom Marshall rounded off the scoring in a see-saw first half.
The second half began with a try from the man of the match, openside Thomas Young, followed by an impressive kicking performance by Wasps fly-half Danny Cipriani, who helped his side pull away with several tricky touchline conversions and two penalties in quick succession.
Considering Cipriani’s improved kicking and overall control, particularly during the phases of attacking pressure Wasps used to grind down the Cherry and Whites, his name will now get mentioned in connection to Eddie Worcester Warriors have announced that Alan Solomons will take over as director of rugby when Gary Gold leaves to become the US Eagles’ head coach at the end of this month.
Gold had been expected to leave in the summer, but his new role now begins in January and Solomons has agreed a 2½-year deal to replace him.
The 67-year-old joined Worcester as Gold’s assistant in October and has helped them to three wins from four matches. Jones’s England squad. Dai Young remained measured over his playmaker, but also seemed a tad jaded at the mounting speculation.
“Every win seems to be about Danny,” he said. “He was a very important player, but there were a lot of other players out there today. The pleasing thing for me was Danny’s kicking. He kicked really well, which hasn’t been a strong part of his game. It has been a part of his game people have questioned.
“I thought he controlled the game really well. We all know what a threat he is with ball in hand. There is no doubting he is a great attacking player, but this wasn’t all about Danny Cipriani.
“In fairness to Danny, he just got on with the job and fitted into the system and helped everyone else play around him. I thought he was a really important cog.
“Regarding the England squad, who knows? I think that is up to Eddie pretty much, I don’t think he is playing any better or any worse since he has been here. He hasn’t been picked to date. Danny says he has regular contact with Eddie but I don’t know what that conversation is about or what is said in that conversation, but all Danny can do is keep on playing well.”
The frenetic second half was rounded off by tries for Wasps by replacements Guy Thompson and Dan Robson and, finally, Wade again, while Gloucester secured their bonus-point try via Freddie Clark.
Johann Ackermann, the Gloucester head coach whose side had been unbeaten since September, remained philosophical.
“Come half-time we were pleased with the tries we scored. We were under pressure at stages but the guys stuck it out,” he said.
“We were very pleased at half-time, but then things went pear-shaped in the second half. One or two momentum swings, then suddenly we started to chase the game and make even more errors.
“No rugby player likes to lose, I don’t even like to lose a PlayStation game. The mood is not good, but I said to the boys this is why we play, to compare ourselves against the best.”